Listen, don't mention the war! I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it all right.

every time
i think about you
in bed
with me
the sheets are always
always
incredibly white
and smell like
they were dried
on a clothesline
on that first
warm spring day
the real one
not the fake out
that comes
a week before
snow returns
and if i was
thinking about it
now
we’re watching
fawlty towers
and you’re loving it
the show
somewhat
and how much
i adore it
’cause i don’t
laugh out loud
a lot
usually
when
the disc ends
you give me
the look
and i know
what you want
what you need
right
now
you need
me
to
read to you
i ask what
book
story
poem
haaaaaiku
you shrug
ack
have i told you
lately
that i love
your shoulders
you shrug
again
and a tank top strap
falls down
as if on cue
did you write
anything today
you ask
as you open
your eyes
hopefully
causing cute
wrinkling on your
lovely forehead
a point that
could lead you to
beat me
if i mention it
and i reply
i wrote a
word doodle dealie
about this girl
and she is
prrrrretty
how pretty
you snuggleask
oh very pretty
i say
while nodding
tell me about her
please
you request
in a voice
that could
talk me out
of a lifeboat
i grab
my notebook
flip to the page
and start reading
using my nightvoice
no
better
using my youvoice
i read
and you bite
a little
on your bottom lip
i read
and you smush
your face
against my chest
i change the
penultimate line
on the fly
and make it so much
better
and you
are quiet
when i stop
and i wonder
if it landed
and you kiss my chest
read it again
and
ok
fine
i may be
thinking
a little
about it now
and you
always you